The Biscuits	Dollin - Druid 7th Level (PC) Gimar - Fighter 8th Level (PC) Jaron - Paladin 6th Level (PC) Little John - Fighter 6th Level (NPC) Nicola - Cleric 6th Level (PC) Rheaphlyndar - Thief 8th Level (PC) Wed - Mage 6th Level (NPC) Yodavan - Mage/Cleric 1st/3rd (PC) Lemuel - Cleric (NPC)
Locale	East of Irongate
Date	9th day of Harvester, 585 CY (Common Year)
Time	Late afternoon

Late in the afternoon of the second day on the road, the Biscuits found an inn with good services and stables. The weather was threatening rain, and all agreed it was a good time to stop. In their recent travels, the most they had encountered was a bad dream. Gimar figured that this would be the perfect time to do some serious planning for the road ahead.

Innkeeper	Welcome to the Inn of the Black Hand. Stableboy, see to these horses.
Gimar	Do you have a private dining area?
Innkeeper	Yes, of course. (examining the party) It has a very large Dinner Table that should seat many Knights.
Gimar	(Flipping a tip to the stableboy) Excellent. (To the party) Half an hour? I'd like some time to freshen up.
Jaron	Ah, the chance for a haircut. Is there a good barber here?
Innkeeper	May I recommend the halfling Newt? He is an accomplished cutter of hair.
Gimar	(Again to the party) Hmmm, better make it an hour.

Jaron had been due for a good shave and haircut since before Irongate. The largely dwarven contingent of that town were quite proficient in beards and long braids, but that didn't fit the paladin's image. He idly wondered how the halfling would perform.

Jaron

(chuckling to himself) Probably on a stepladder.

When next the party met, they were in a private dining room at the inn. The meal was an enjoyable mixture of roasted game birds and vegetables, served upright in polenta. The harvest ale was the perfect complement. Jaron's hair was now trim and clean, and most of the party made plans to visit Newt before leaving the next day.

There were only two main routes being considered. The first was east, through the Hollow Highlands, Rieuwood, and northern Sunndi, then up to Rel Astra by staying east of the Mikar river. The other route started more to the north, through more settled lands - although they would certainly skirt the capital of Kalstrand. The party opinion held that they should stick to the less populated route.

Lemuel stayed out of the conversation, offering only occasional nods. Nicola figured he either didn't care which way the party went or had already foreseen their route. The high ranking priest excused himself just before the desserts and returned to his room.

The rough map indicated that the road wound eastward, through the Iron Hills, then turned slightly north. As Gimar peered at it, he saw a mention of the Dwarven King Holgi Hirsute, and vowed to drop in if their route took them close. He then left to meet with an elder dwarf while most of the party opted for further beverages.

The inn didn't have a formal bar, so the Biscuits adjourned to Hawg Waller's, a local drinking establishment of dubious reputation. The barkeep carried a different harvest ale than the inn, and the Biscuits ordered two pitchers of "Prymp Harvest Ale". Sitting together, the party had their beverages in peace -- a peace broken by the raucous entrance of Gimar.

Gimar	Good news, I've got a map to the Dwarven Kingdom!
Nicola	It's a good thing the locals are used to boisterous dwarves.
Wed	(peering at the map) It's a little out of our way, but . . .
Gimar	No, how can you say that. Look over here, that pass is too steep.
Dollin	You call that a pass? Besides, it's late summer . . .
Wed	. . . and we are in southern latitudes.

Gimar looked around the table, and gradually realized that these objections were a little too well rehearsed. He smiled broadly and paid for a round, and after that only Jaron had a legitimate beef.

Jaron	No side treks, we've got to stay focused on our goal.
Gimar	(still smiling) Agreed.

The Biscuits	Dollin - Druid 7th Level (PC) Gimar - Fighter 8th Level (PC) Jaron - Paladin 6th Level (PC) Little John - Fighter 6th Level (NPC) Nicola - Cleric 6th Level (PC) Rheaphlyndar - Thief 8th Level (PC) Wed - Mage 6th Level (NPC) Yodavan - Mage/Cleric 1st/3rd (PC) Lemuel - Cleric (NPC)
Locale	East of Irongate
Date	10th day of Harvester, 585 CY (Common Year)
Time	Morning

The party made it out of the waystation in mid-morning, accompanied by a very light rain. More haircuts had been the order of the day, although Wed and Little John were having a tough time figuring out who had paid for which.

Wed	I tell you I paid for mine.
Little John	So did I, but somebody stiffed the little creep. I'm not paying him twice.
Wed	Well neither am I.
Little John	Fine.
Wed	Fine.
Little John	Good.
Wed	Good.

That discussion somewhat abated, the party rode on in silence for a few miles. Rheaphlyndar called halt because he heard something in the bushes, and Dollin flew down to give quick confirmation. Just as the party was readying for battle, the identity of the noisemaker was made known.

Newt	(stepping from the undergrowth) I want my two silver!

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